Name: Sopon Surariddhidhamrong (Age 25)
Occupation: Radiation Technologist
Case: Lèse Majesté (Article 112) from Public Speeches
Date Imprisoned: 24 August 2023
Location of Imprisonment: Bangkok Remand Prison

“Get” Sopon Surariddhidhamrong, a radiation technologist, began his journey of political activism as a “WeVo Guard,” or part of We Volunteer, while still a student in 2020. He then joined the “DNA” volunteer medic group to provide medical support to democracy activists during that period.

“Get” is one of the founders of “Mok Luang Rim Nam” and is facing 14 political cases. His cases include those which have been decided as well as those which remain ongoing at the police investigation and trial stages. Among his political cases, 4 are Article 112 cases; the Court of First Instance has already decided in 2 cases already (both are currently under appeal) and 2 are still at the trial stage.  

The first of his decided cases arose from speaking during the #TourMooLaPua. On 22 April 2022, Get was sentenced to 3 years and 6 months imprisonment by the Criminal Court; the 6 months addition to the portion of the sentence for violation of Article 112 arose from using an amplifier without permission under Article 4 of the Advertisement by Using Sound Amplifiers Control Act. The law stipulates a punishment of a fine no greater than 200 baht but the Court chose to apply an excess punishment. 

The second case arose from being a speaker during the “Revisiting History After 240 Years: Who Killed King Taksin?” demonstration on 6 April 2022 in Wongwian Yai. Get was found guilty and imprisoned for another 3 years. In this case, Get made a declaration to the court revoking his own legal representation and refusing the judicial process in order to protest he demanded the right to bail for all detainees in political cases and the cessation of prosecution of all Article 112 cases.

Get has been imprisoned twice. In May 2022, Get was imprisoned for the first time after his first Article 112 conviction and he was not granted bail. He announced that he was going on a hunger strike to call for the right to bail. He was on a hunger strike for 20 days. He was granted bail after being imprisoned for 29 days. 

As a condition of being granted bail, Get was subject to 24-hour house arrest. This was the case for the entire 7 months that he was released until his bail was revoked at the beginning of 2023 after he joined a protest during the APEC 2022 meeting on 17 November 2022. The Court viewed Get’s participation in the protest as a violation of the conditions of his bail. This time, Get engaged in activism in the prison to call for bail for himself and other political detainees by going on a sleep strike, or refusing to sleep, for 14 days.